Internationalisation of higher education (IoHE) is used by a growing number of non-first-tier cities in China make their universities more globally competitive. However, we only have limited understandings about the strategies, drivers and challenges involved. This study addresses this knowledge gap through a case study focusing on a non-first-tier city in Pearl River Delta, an industrial city also in the Greater Bay Area, southern China. Analysis of interviews with 16 stakeholders from a local university reveals that in this context, internationalisation is a development strategy of higher education institutions to attract government support. The value of stakeholder analysis approach is considered, and further research directions are proposed.